Incompatible Interspecies Wives

100 – No Favoritism (6)

“-If you don’t have someone you love, you won’t come into heat?”

At those words, Ner’s heart sank.

A loved one.

His head becomes blank for a moment.

Ner whispered involuntarily.

“……Yes?”

The old woman continues.

“So you may be mistaken. It’s not that the estrus has intensified… It’s just that the estrus has started.”

“…That’s…What,,,”

She smiled broadly.

“Looks like you’ve found someone to love for the rest of your life. Congratulations.”

Ner blinked her eyes.

Does that old woman say that she is in love with Berg?

It can’t be.

“………”

But nothing came out of her mouth to refute.

That easy denial does not come out.

My heart was pounding.

Many memories with Berg run through her head.

‘Ner.’

He also recalls his smiling face as he calls out to him.

Ner’s tail curled up and wrapped itself around his waist.

“… Huh?”

Ner let out a dazed noise in confusion.

The old woman smiled.

“You look like a girl. Whoops. It reminds me of my past.”

Ner shook her head with difficulty.

“…Ah, no. It can’t be.”

She

Even as she speaks, she feels herself struggling.

She still continued to make excuses for herself.

“Berg is…A human? Yo, a mercenary… Plus a commoner…”

The old woman answers Nere’s words with a benevolent expression.

“Doesn’t Lady Blackwood know that those are all just excuses?”

“……”

“… Whoops. We have a hard time admitting that love has come.”

“…”

“I love only one person, but it’s hard to believe in the miracle of having that person in front of me. I worry about whether I’m the right person before giving my heart… And it’s hard to accept the fact that I’ve betrayed my heart, which I feel ashamed of.”

Ner carefully squeezed his voice into the story.

“…Doesn’t estrus come according to a certain period…?”

The old woman shook her head.

There was not even an inch of hesitation.

“As you know, our people love only one person.”

“…”

“I don’t love anyone that much, and even if I want to fall in love with someone, I don’t fall.”

“…”

“If we can’t control our s*xual desire just because the full moon has risen, if the estrus comes just because the full moon has risen, will we be able to make love with anyone just like the in-cat people?”

“…”

“…The full moon isn’t without its influence, but that’s not all. The target of estrus is also clearly defined. Simply put… It’s a story that there is no proof of love as accurate as heat.”

Ner couldn’t refute the old woman’s words, but he dared to argue and listen.

“…How can you be sure of that?”

The old woman smiled.

“I have lived a long time. In the meantime, I’ve heard many stories. This is a story based on many experiences. I did, and so did the people around me…”

“…”

However, seeing the old woman giving such an easy answer to any refutation, Ner finally shut his mouth.

“I never thought the day would come when I could say something like this to Lady Blackwood.”

“…”

As she did in the past, she hugged her tail when she was confused.

It was a reflex action that has been going on since childhood.

Even now, hugging that white tail tightly, she tried to organize her thoughts.

It didn’t come easy.

Seeing her expression like that, the old woman greeted her.

“Then, I will go. Please call me if you need anything else.”

“…”

Nere couldn’t even see her off.

With so many thoughts, there was no time for that.

She thinks that she has been frozen in the same posture for a long time.

Ner lightly closed her eyes.

Her heart was racing.

Ignoring the blaring thoughts in her head, she keeps asking herself.

Do I love Berg?

Has he already given his heart?

Have you found a partner to love for the rest of your life?

“…Ah.”

To the endless beat of her heart, to the accumulated memories, she had no choice but to admit it.

Facts you realize in vain.

…Maybe in love.

****

Arwin felt the warmth as he watched the rain fall on her.

The warmth of Berg on his back was so comfortable.

There was no discomfort caused by wet clothes.

Instead, I think that it would be nice if this time could last even a little longer.

“…”

…It’s not something you get to experience often.

It was nothing else.

Can she, being an aristocrat, ever go through this experience again?

No matter how many days are left to live.

That’s how Arwin came up with another excuse for his thoughts.

Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming feeling in my heart.

There is a sense of peace that this calm gives.

The sound of rain echoing in the forest, and the warmth of Berg coming from the back.

The embarrassment of being under a tree like this is overwritten by memories with Berg.

Of course, 160 years of torture wasn’t as easily forgotten as it was said…But it was okay now.

The peace she had longed for was here.

I would have thought that I would feel this kind of feeling in a place like this.

I’d never imagined taking a break under a tree.

Perhaps it will be difficult to remember anything as much as it is now.

With that gratitude, he wants to make excuses for his strange behavior the other day.

The moment I raised my voice and said I would not avoid the rain kept lingering in my head.

“…Berg.”

“Huh?”

“…Actually, I hate this kind of space.”

“…”

“Do you know why…?”

Berg nodded.

“Guess.”

“…I have suffered for 160 years, so I will not be easily forgotten.”

“…”

At the sight of Berg exhaling a strangely heavy breath, Arwin’s mood seemed to be relieved instead.

“…That’s why I said I didn’t want to come in earlier. Sorry. When you come in, it’s cozy and nice.”

“…Then I’m glad.”

Arwin smiled.

With him by his side, he must have been able to think like this.

Then he started asking questions about Berg.

“Have you often sheltered from the rain in a place like this?”

“No. It’s my first time too.”

Arwin smiled at the word “First time.”

“…If it rains in the future, I will always remember this moment.”

Berg nodded.

Arwin didn’t know if Berg knew what that meant.

As an elf, she won’t forget this moment.

I would cherish the memory of him for more than a thousand years.

I will keep this memory vivid for a long time longer than anyone else.

I already have several memories like this.

Galias work too. Sea work too. Ring work.

“…”

Suddenly Arwin felt his heart sink slowly.

I think of the world after Berg’s death.

Even though it was clear that the long-awaited freedom would come…Now I don’t feel like it.

I can’t believe that this is also the moment that ends.

This might be the first time I wished something wasn’t over.

“…”

Arwin shook his head.

I decided not to have such bad thoughts now.

This was going to be an obstacle for memories.

There had to be no such impurities in the memory to be kept for more than a thousand years.

So, she took a break, smelling the scent of nature brought by the night air.

She recalled it momentarily.

Did you ever imagine that Dan Myeongjong would become so… Good.

It feels like Berg is lifting the burden on my heart one by one.

She was the one who had never revealed her private parts to anyone.

She said that in her 170 years, no one understood her.

But Berg was different.

The more comfortable I am by her side, the more trust I have that I will accept her no matter what I do.

With that in mind, Arwin slowly put his body on Berg’s back.

“…”

Then she casually rests her head on his neck.

At that moment, Berg trembled.

Arwin was surprised by his behavior and removed his head.

Did I not like it?

“…Berg?”

And looking back at him, I could see what had made him tremble.

…Where he leaned his head, there were marks from Ner’s teeth.

Clear teeth marks visible through blue bruises.

“…………”

Arwin had a momentary feeling.

Even she didn’t know what kind of emotion it was.

It was clear that she was in a bad mood.

I didn’t like the traces of Ner who was interfering with them at this moment.

An obstacle appears again.

Berg says.

“Sorry. It’s not that I didn’t like it… It’s just that the traces I made with Ner are a bit stiff.”

“…”

Berg is moaning in pain again.

Why does a man like this have to suffer because of a woman like that?

Why do I have to carry these unnecessary marks on my body?

Their savage culture was something that Arwin could not understand.

“…Berg.”

“… Huh?”

Arwin turned around and slipped the wedding ring from Berg’s left ring finger to Nere.

…Then whispered.

“…A secret about Ner…There is one thing you should know.”

Arwin could not control his running heart.

“…That way, I think Berg will be less hurt. I have to… I won’t do anything reckless like this anymore.”

Arwin gently touched Berg’s scar.

Berg shakes his head.

“This is what I asked for. Ner is-“

“-Ner is.”

Arwin cut him off.

I have thought of revealing this fact several times already.

It is only now that an opportunity has arisen.

Berg looked at Arwin with a questioning expression, blinking his eyes.

“…?”

Arwin did not feel guilty.

I wasn’t lying.

Maybe it was a consideration for Ner.

Isn’t Berg the Nere he said he didn’t like?

Isn’t she the one who said how she loves her human mercenary?

It would have been okay to widen the gap between the two of them a little.

“Ner… Has no intention of loving you to the end.”

Berg furrowed his eyebrows slightly.

Arwin said while looking at it.

“…There’s already someone waiting for you.”